Sheet-metal pipe



(No Model.) 2 sheets -sheet I.

W. AUSTIN. I

SH EE TMBTALPIPE. I I I I v v No. 253,493. Patented Feb. 14,1882.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

w AUSTIN.

. v SHEET METAL PIPE.

N0.'Z53,4 93. Patented Feb. 14,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFrcn.

WILLIAM AUSTIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHEET-METAL PIPE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,493, dated February 14, 1882.

Application filed July 22, 1881. (No model.)

To'alll whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM AUSTIN, of Philadelphia,in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Water-Pipes and Machines for Constructing the Same, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to producea sheet-metal spouting or water-00nd uctin g pipe which shall be exceedingly cheap in eonstruction, and which shall at the same time possess a sufficient degree of rigidity and stiffness to prevent it from being indented or bent out of shape by the strains and pressures to which it is subjected while being handled and when in use.

To this end it consists in a pipe made in a cylindrical form by seaming the two edges of the metal sheet together longitudinally, as usual, and providing the pipe thus constructed with a spiral rib to give the required stiffness thereto.

I am aware that metallic pipes have been constructed by winding strips of metal in a spiral form and riveting or sealing the edges together, thus producing a spiral seam.

I am also aware that the ends of sheet-metal stove-pipe have been provided with a continu- 7 ing a longitudinal seam, is of substantially a smooth cylindrical form, with the spiral rib formed by creasing the metal to give the re quired rigidity.

It is preferred, as shown in the accompanying drawings, to make use of a single continuous spiral rib; but it is manifest that the duplication of the ribs would not be a departure from the scope of my invention. It is also preferred, as shown in the drawings, to form the ribbypressingthemetaloutward; butthe same result may be secured by pressing the rib inward instead of outward.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved pipe; Fig.2, across-section of the same; Fig. 3, a view of the blank or sheet after being acted upon by the machine, but previous to the closing of the seam or joint; Figs. 4, 5,

and 6, respectively a side elevation, an end elevation, and a top plan view of the machine by which the blank is produced; Fig. 7, a crosssection of the rolls.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A represents .the pipe, which may be of tin or other suitable sheet metal, in section of any required length, eachsection being prefbrably eoinpo'sed of a single sheet of metal. As represented in thedrawings, each section consists ot' a sheet folded edgewise into a tubular form and having the two edges united in alongitudinal seam or joint, a. The body of the pipe, which is usually of a smooth cylindrical form, is provided, as shown, with a spiral rib, I), this rib being formed by pressing the metal upward from the inside in such manner as to form, when .the pipe is completed, a continuous spiral rib encircling thesaine at a greater or less degree of obliquity, as may be desired.

The manner of constructing or forming the longitudinal joint or seam forms no part of my invention, the ordinary lap-joint or either of the other joints known in the art being adapted for the purpose. 7

As a means of connecting the sections of the pipe with each other, I provide the'ends of the sections with spiral screw-threads or ribs 0, which, however, are not claimed as my invention.

By pressing and grooving the metal, as indicated in the drawings, the pipe will be expanded at one end and contracted at the other to a limited extent, permitting the threaded portions to be united the more readily.

Referring to the machineforforming the pipe, which is, so far as I have been able to ascertain, the only practicalmeans for the purpose, it will be seen to consist essentially of two parallel rolls, B 0, having their ends provided with journals mounted in boxes in upright frames D, the two rolls being geared together at one end by pinions 0. At the opposite end one of the rolls is provided with a gear-wheel, f, driven by means of a pinion, g, to which an operating hand-crank, h, is attached, as shown, so that by turning the crank a positive and equal motion is imparted to the two rolls, their surfaces being turned toward each other in order to pass the sheets of metal between them.

The roll 0 is provided, as shown, with a raised spiral rib, i, encircling the same from end to end, while the roll B is provided with a corresponding groove,j, into which the rib i extends, as shown in the drawings, the arrangement being such that as the rolls revolve the rib of one follows constantly in the groove of the other, the effect of which is to produce in a sheet of metal which may be passed between them a series of curved or oblique ribs in such position that when the sheet is coiled into the tubular form and united at the end they will produce a continuous spiral rib.

In order that the rolls may bend the blank into the tubular form at the same time that the spiral ribs are formed therein, the lower roll is provided, as shown in Fig. 7, with alongitudinal grooveflr, into which the edge of each sheet is inserted before commencing operation. The edge of the sheet being inserted into the groove, the rotation of the rolls first bends the edge downward at an angle to the sheet, after Which the sheet, having its edge retained in the groove, is wound or coiled closely around the lower roll, from which it is removed by springing its edges apart. Upon being removed the sheet presents the appearance represented in Fig. 3. Inasmuch asit is desirable that the two edges of the sheetshallbe flat and straight to facilitate the seaming of them together, I prefer to flatten down the ribs on the roll adjacent to the groove 70, and to make the grooves in such form as to conform closely to theseflattened faces. Under this construction of the rolls the oblique ribs are caused to vanish or merge gradually into the sheet of the blank near each edge of the latter, leaving the edges of the blank flat and plain, so that they may be united without difliculty.

For the purpose of forming the threads upon the ends of the pipe, the rolls are provided, as

shown in the drawings, with suitable male and- It is described herein for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to carry my invention into practice.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is i 1. As a new article of manufacture, a sheetmetal pipe having its bodysections stiffened by means ofa spiral rib formed by pressing mp the metal, substantially as shown and described.

2. The improved pipesection, consisting of a single sheetof metal folded into tubular form, with its edges united longitudinally and having a spiral rib formed thereon, as described and shown.

3. A blank for a sheet-metal pipe, consisting of the curved sheet of metal having the oblique ribs b raised thereon.

4c. The improved pipe-blank, consisting of a curved sheet of metal having one flat and one folded edge, and having also the oblique ribs 1) formed thereon, as described and shown.

WILLIAM AUSTIN.

Witnesses:

BENJN. P. OBDYKE, H. CLARK GANS. 

